Cement brick and block machine



Oct. l, 1929- A. R. CANFIELD 1,729,984

' I- CEMENT BRICK AND B LOCK MACHINE l Filed Aug. 2,4 1927 4Sheets-Sheet l' A. R. CANFIELD .m1h,729,9v84 Y CEMENT BRICK AND BLOCKMACHINE Oct. 1', l 92 9'.

, 4 sheaves-shewv 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1927 zo 4 l .5R 1g ZZ A j v"efztor: ff 76 Z917 gzz'el@ Oct; l, 1929. A. R. CANFIELD 1,729,984

CEMNT BRICK AND BLOCK MACHINE A Y 'Filed Aug. 2. 1927 4 Shets-Sheet 5www l n arneys.

Oct. l, 1.929. A R, CANFIELD 1,729,984

CEMENT BRICK AND BLOCK MACHINE Filed Aug. 2. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Oct. l, 1929 .AUDLEY n. CANFIELD, or BooNn, :IOWA

CEMENT BRICK AND BLOCK MACHINE Application nieu August 2, y1921. serialNo. 210,193..-

This invention `relates to improvements iny -oement'brick and blockmachines, .theprilmary object bei-.ng the production ofa machine whichywill meet the demand of brick f and block makers and give :a speedy,simple j and economical all around machine at a 1minimam .of oostfandwhich will make bricks and blocks of di'erent designs and dimensions.More particularly :this machine is an u improvement upon the cementblock machine kset forth in Patent Number 1,050,804, granted-to me on.the 21st .day of January, 1913, and bythe use of which only cementblocks are adapted to be made. By the use of my y invention cementbricks and blocks of superior quality are adaptedto be made easily inlarge quantity at less cost than heretofore. 'The machine also is easilyand quickly convertible for use making eitherbricks or 2o blocks ofvdifferent sizes and designs. It gives to the individual contractor andbuilder a machine by `which he can produce hisown bricks and -blocks-ata minimum of cost.

To these ends, invention comprises the features of construction andcombination of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

Intl-1e accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifica-tion,F-ig. 1 is aperspective vie-w of my invention, showing the parts inVposition immediately after a group of cement bricks have been moldedand the palette `raised 'in readiness to vkremove the group of greenbricks from the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan of" my invention when theparts 'are set in Vreadiness to mold a group of' bricks, eX- ceptingthat the hopper is removed; Fig. 3 lis another plan when the brickypla-tes and yoke are in superiorposition and the block plates or sidesstripped fromthe machine, said yoke beingv partly broken away and insection; Fig.y 4 1s a `vertical vsection on the line '4L-4 of F'ig. 2,the broken line position of the table 4indicating the folding positionit is adapted to assume; Fig. 5 isl another vertical section taken ontheline 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 isa sidee'lenation of .a .detail showing thespider .elevating .operating handle; Fig., 7 is .an view partly insection of the structure .shown sin. 61; 8 is a section on :the line 4-4of Fig. 2 of a detail of the structure 4when the brick plates and yokeare 'lowered in readiness for moldingbricks, the palette :andllers beingremoved; Fig. 9 is asimilar section ito that shown in Fig. 8 when thefbrick plates and yoke are raised into superior, position; Fig. 10 is asection of a detail show-` ing the s'licer handle in lowermost positionafter-the brick plates have been forced forwardly to perform their4slicing function; Fig. 11 is a perspective View ofthe ytypicalremovablebl'ockmolding side pla-te; Fig. 12 is a sectionof adetailshowing a core -in :the block mold for use in molding hollowbuilding blocks, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of thepalettes for use whenfa hollow` building block is "molded in themachine.

In thedrawings, A indicates -a base frame of any-'suitable construction,upon the top 10- vofv which are mounted a plurality of side platesforming the front, back and end elements, respectively 11, 112, 13 and14', of a mold. The-back element 12'is rigidly secured in verticalposition, to the base'frameIby bolts 15 and the' remaining sideelementsa-re ti'ltably and -detachably' secured to sadbase frame byseparable hinge-v connections,

formed by pintles 16 in the top 10 and hinge seats 17 in the lower endsof .arms `18* dei pending from said plates (see Fig. 8). In closed moldforming position all of the side plates are vertical (see Fig. .5)andafter-the moldingv operation the movable side plates tilt outwardlyon their hinge connections and spread (see Fig. 9). A paletteormoldboard B, of .any snitablejdesig-n and thickness is vplacedatsuitable height .onthe top 10 ofthe frame .betweentlie side plates toproduce the bottoml ofthe mold and" upon whichthe block or bricks can beremoved fromy .the

machine.' y 1.

Ak horizontal shaft 20 is secured -infa pair of bosses 21, along theouter wall ofthe back plate 12l and upon tliisqshaf-tas `a common anisare ournaled a yokeelement C, agroup of brick platesl), and a' tableelementl E;

The yoke lelement isadapted to swingdown into substantially horizontalposition, engaging `over cam or draw shoulders 22; resemblingreinforcing vertical ribs on `theouter faces of the movable side plates11,13 andi..

14 and drawing the side plates closed into vertical mold formingposition. A pair of arms 28, depending from the yoke, engage the drawshoulders on the front plate l1 in advance of the yok-e proper so thatthe end and front plate will move together evenly. At end 24 on one sideof the yoke C is adapted to strike a stop shoulder 25, projecting fromthe back plate, to limit the movement and hold the yoke in raisedposition as shown in Fig. 9. Handles 19 are provided Vfor operating theyoke member.

The group of brick plates D is composed of a plurality of verticalplates extending `forwardly through vertical slots 26 in the front andback plates 11 and 12 and in height corresponding with the width of thecementbricks to be molded on the palette in the machine. The' back endsof these plates are held apart by the spacing blocks 27 and `tiedtogether by the tie bolt 28, which penetrates the plates and spacingblocks. The spacing blocks are slotted at 29 to permit the tie bolts endof the group of brick plates have a series of aligned angle slots 88(see Fig. 8), opening 'downwardly to receive the shaft 20. The

' inner horizontal portions of these slots per- ;mit of the group ofbrick plates sliding for a limited distance forwardly and backwardly toassist in freeing the plates from the bricks on the palette withoutbreaking the material from which the bricks in themold cavities havebeen produced. The group of brick plates is adapted to swing up intosubstantially vertical position on the shaft 20 `(see Figs. 1 and 8),suitable slots 84 in the table E being provided through which the brickplates turn. The back en'ds of the brick plates strike against the backmember of the group of side plates when the brick plates i assumesuperior position and limit this movement. When at rest in this superiorposi- `tion `the shaft 2O is at the inner end of the slots88 (see Fig.9), and they remain in this position on the shaft after being swung downinto horizontal molding position across the mold cavity as shown inFig.` 8. A handle 85 having two sides 86 and 87 journaled on the shaft81 andformed with work arms 88 are employed for imparting a strippingmovement to the brick plates D. When the brick plates are lowered thework arms 88 engage over the yoke C so that when the lever operatinghandle 85 is pressed down the brick plates are slid forwardly over thebinding.

yoke element C when the group of brick pla-tesis lowered into the mol-dand guide the stripping member into engagement over the yoke member inreadiness for the lever handle to hbe pressed down and the brick platesstripped forwardly. Cam disks 41 selectively positioned by bindingscrews 42 on the sides of the lever arms 86 and 87 are adapted to strikethe ends of the adjacent brick plates D and limit the Y'downward andupward movement of said lever arms. Suitable grooves 48 inthe spacingtubing 80 are adapted' to hold the lever members 86 and 87 Vfreelyrsothat they may turn without The table element E consists of a platesecured on brackets 45 which are journaled on the shaft 20. Tablesupporting arms 46, ldetachably engaging a corner ofthe `base supportare pivoted at 47 to the brackets 45. By releasing the table supportsfrom the base support tlietable can be lowered or folded from thehorizontal to the broken line position shown in Fig. 4. The table may beused for supporting the hopper when not in use or for any other purposedesired.

Arranged in the base frame is the palette lifting mechanism F, which isadapted after each molding and stripping operation to be used forraising the palette bearing the block orbricks into the position shownin Fig. 1, so that the palette can be easily lifted an'c carried fromthe machine. This lifting mechanism comprises a spider frame com` posedof four vertical thrust rods 51 sliding vertically through guide holes52 in the top l() of the base .frame and mounted at their lower ends inskeleton frame 58. This skeleton frame has at its oppositeA ends pairsof antifriction guide rollers 54 (see Fig. 5), traveling in verticalchannels 55 in the ends of the body frame A. Lifting cams, each ina-dein twopieces 56 and 57 are secured to thesquare lifting shaft 58, saidshaft being mounted in bearings 59 which are rotatably supported in thebody frame. These cams are-arranged to enga-ge the skeleton frame 58below antifriction rollers 60 andthrust the rods 5l upwardly. The cammember 57 d.,

of each lifting cam unit is pivoted at its heel end to member 56 bythebolt 61 and the outer end portions of members 57 are adjustablysupportedon members 56 by the stud bolts 62, to align the cam membersand thus produce even lifting movement by the spider frame andpreventing breaking of the blocks or bricksV molded by the machine.

The upper ends of the thrust'rods are adapt 'fed to engage belowand liftthe palette in the mold afterl the molding operation. This movementiisimparted by turning the lifting shaft 58. This lifting shaftv hassecured toltilted on pin 64 longitudinally on the lifting shaft 58 andmade to engage below a pin 66 on the body frame and holdthe liftingmechanism in superior position with the palette in the mold elevated.The upper ends of the channels 55 are closed to house them and providedwith shields 67 to protect the channels and the antifriction rollers 54from sand, .mortar or other material that might intertere with themovement of the parts.

The plate members 12, 13 and 14 are provided with springs 7() whichdetachably engage through slotted ribs 7:1 with said membersto spreadthem and release the molded article or articles when the brick plates Dandyoke C are elevated. The lower end of each of said springs 70 isvertically adjustable in a socketmemberk 72 to which it is secured b 1 abolt 73 passing through a vertical slot r4 (see FigA). Said socketmember is adjustably secured to the topl 10- to be selectivelypositioned on the-base frame by bolt 75 passing through slot 76 in thesocket member, thereby permitting theadjustment of the outward tendencyof spring 70 (see Fig. l

When filling and tamping molding materialinthe mold cavity or cavitieswhen either molding blocks or bricks, a hopper G may be placed over thetop ofthe plate members and held in position by removable pins 76entering recesses 77 in said members (see Fig. 4). Y

In use, vassuming first that bricks are to be molded i-n the machine,suitable fillers 80 are set between the side plates and a palette -Bplaced on said fillers, the thickness of the fillers causing the paletteto assumea position in the plane of theV lower sides of the bricks to bemolded. The yoke C is next swung down into horizontal position, thusengaging1 and closing the side plates tightly together around thefillers and palette. The groupof brick plates D is then swung down intohorizontal position by its handles, the hopper G isl next adjusted" overthe side plates, and* the mold cavities are then filled anditamped withvmolding material. After removing the hopper and scraping any surplusmaterial away from the surface, the stripping' handle 35 is pressed downinto the position shown in Fig. l0 and the stripping or horizontalmovement thus imparted to the, brick plates. This; lfrees theA plates sothat they canbe lifted into superior position away from the moldedbricks without diss turbing and' breaking the material'. The yokei'snextraised4V and the side plates are spread automatically by theirsprings 70; The

handley 63 is'swung tip-and the palette and.

fillers 'thus raised into'the position shown in Fig. 1, whereuponthe'handle' is made to engage the pin 66, and lhold the palette andbricksl in superior position, fromY which they i are removed by hand orother means. The

brick plates assume backward position automatically when raised so thatwhen again lowered they are in readiness for the handle 3 5 to againimpart the stripping movement when desir.ed.

When the machine is used for molding blocks, the group of brick platesis lifted out of engagement with shaft 20 and removed from themachine..k A palette ris then placed in the mold'cavity either with orwithout ythe use of a filler according to the design or size of block itis desired to mold. The ma# chine is then used, inthe same manner as formolding bricks excepting without the use of the group of brick plates.It is contemplated to use a number ot different kinds of detachable moldplates,l varying in size and design, Fig. 11 illustrating'only one ofman-y forms. It is also contemplated to use-a core 82 (see Fig-l2) inthe mold, bolted at 83 to the' base frame, in which event a hollowpalette Sty is employed. The machinethus provides a simple and speedymeans for use by the individual contractor or builder for making his ownbuildin-g-r blocks andv bricks, at a minimumof expense.

In accordance with theI patent statutes, I have described the principlesolf operation of my inventien togetherwiththe` apparatus which I nowconsider to representv the best embodiment thereof but I desire to haveit understood that the construction shown is only illustratiye and thatthe invention c'an be carried out by other meansand appliedI to V1. Acombined brick andi buildingI block 'L molding machine, comprisingg, incombination, a suitable frame, a plurality of. building block sidewall"s`mountedl upon said? frame, part of. said sidewalls beinghingedtoAspread afterthemolding operation, a brick sup*- porting palet-teremovably a-rranged between said walls, a'plura-lity-of brick pla-tesbetween saidv walls and.. above said palette and" adapted to cooperatetherewith in molding aI plurality of. bricks, means for supporting; saidpalette in brick. molding position between said wal-ls, said means beingmovable to raise saidpalette with the bricks thereonand ar yoke memberadapted to close down oversaid hinged'walls to hold them in, blockmolding position, said yoke member and said brick plates being hingedlon a common, axis whereby they' may be swung'up out of cooperation,wit-'h' said side walls'.y

2. A combined brick and building block molding machine, comprising, incombination, a suitable frame, a pluralityof building b-lock side wallsmounted upon said frame, part of said side walls being hinged to spreadafter the molding operation, a brick supporting palette removablyarranged between said walls and above said palette and adapted tocooperate therewith in molding a plurality of bricks, means forsupporting said palette in brick molding position between said walls,said means being movable to raise said palette with the bricks thereon,and` a yoke member adapted to close down over said hinged side walls tohold them in block molding position, said yoke member and said brickplates being hinged on a common axis whereby they may be swung up out ofcooperation with said side walls and said brick plates having limitedlongitudinal slicing movement to assist in stripping the bricks.

3. A brick molding machine, comprising, in combination, a suitableframe, a plurality of side walls mounted upon said frame, a palettedisposed between said side walls, a plurality of brick plates disposedbetween and cooperating with said side walls to mold a group of bricksonsaid palette, said plates being movable upwardly to clear the brickson said palette and longitudinally to assist in stripping the bricks. 4

4.' A brick molding machine, comprising, in combination, a suitableframe, a plurality of side walls mounted upon said frame, a palettedisposed between said side walls, a plurality of brick plates disposedbetween and cooperating with said walls to mold a group of bricks onsaid palette, said plates being movable upwardly to clear the bricks onthe palette and longitudinally to assist in stripping the bricks andbeing detachably mounted upon said frame.

5. A brick molding machine, comprising, in combination, a suitableframe, a plurality of side walls mounted upon said frame, a palettedisposed upon said frame, a plurality of brick plates disposed betweenand cooperating with said side walls to mold a group of bricks on saidpalette, said plates being movable longitudinally while in brick moldingposition to assist in stripping the bricks and upwardly to clear thebricks, and means for automatically imparting said longitudinal movementto said plates to strip the bricks.

6. A brick molding machine, comprising, in combination, a suitableframe, a plurality of side walls mounted upon said frame, a palettedisposed between said side walls, a united group of brick platesdisposed between and cooperating with said side walls to mold a group ofbricks on said palette, said group of plates being movablelongitudinally while in brick molding position and upwardly to clear thebricks, and means for automatically of side walls mounted upon saidframe hav i `ing brick plate receiving slots, a palette disposed betweensaid side walls, a united group of brick plates disposed through saidslots and across said side walls and cooperating with said side walls tomold a group of bricks on said palette, said group of plates beingmovable longitudinally while in brick molding position and upwardly toclear the bricks,

and means for imparting said longitudinal movement to said group ofbrick plates automatically to strip the bricks while they are beingraised.

8. A combined brick and building block molding machine, comprising, incombination, a suitable frame, a plurality of building block side wallsmounted upon said frame, part oi said side walls being hinged to spreadafter the molding operation, a brick supporting palette removablyarranged between said walls, a plurality of brick plates between saidwalls and above said palette and adapted to cooperate therewith inmolding a plurality oi bricks, means for supporting said palette inbrick molding position between said walls, said means being movable toraise said palette with the bricks thereon, a yoke member adapted toclose down over'said hinged walls to hold them in block moldingposition, a 'table extending laterally from said machine and, adapted tofold downwardly, said yoke member, brick plates and table being hingedupon a common axis whereby the yoke and brick plates may be swung up outof cooperation with said side walls and palette and said table elevated,and means for supporting said table in elevated position.

9. A brick molding machine,.comprising, in combination, a suitableframe, a plurality of side walls mounted upon said frame having brickplate receiving slots, a palette disposed between said side walls, aunited group of-brick plates disposed through said slots and across saidside walls and cooperating with said side walls to mold a group ot Abricks on said palette, said group of brick plates being provided withangle slots near their back ends, and a hinge support detachablyvengaging said group of brick plates through said angle slots, wherebythe brick plates have swinging movement and longitudinal movement tostrip the bricks molded upon said palette.

10. A combined brick and block molding machine, comprising, incombination, a suity able body trame, a plurality of block molding sidewalls mounted upon said body frame, part oi' said walls being hinged tospread after the molding operation, a yoke hinged to swing down andengage the side walls and Elf) lli)

hold them closed in block molding position,

' a palette arranged between said side walls, a

spider frame slidable vertically in said body frame and adapted to raisesaid palette after the molding operation, cam mechanism cooperating withsaid spider' frame to raise and lower the same, means for operating saidcam mechanism, and a plurality of brick plates between said side wallsand above said palette and adapted to cooperate therewith to mold aplurality of bricks, said brick plates having angle slots in their backends being hinged upon said body frame and adapted to swing back awayfrom over the palette and to simultaneously move longitudinally.

11. A combined brick and block molding machine, comprising, incombination, a suitable body frame, a plurality of block molding sidewalls mounted upon said frame, part of said side walls being hinged tospread after the molding operation, a yoke hinged to swing down andengage the side walls and hold them closed in block molding position, apalette arranged between said side walls, track channels extendingupwardly in said body frame, a spider frame slidable vertically in saidtrack channels and adapted to raise said palette after the moldingoperation, cam mechanism cooperating with said spider frame to raise andlower the latter, means for operating said cam mechanism, and aplurality of brick plates between said side walls and above said paletteand adapted to cooperate therewith ih molding a plurality of bricks,said brick plates `having angle slots in their back ends being hingedthrough said slots upon said body frame and adapted to swing back awayfrom over the palette and.

to simultaneously move longitudinally.

12. A combined brick and block molding machine, comprising, incombination, a suitable body frame,.a plurality of block molding sidewalls mounted upon said frame, part of said side walls being hinged tospread after the molding operation, ay yoke hinged to swing down andengage the side walls and hold them closed in block molding position, apalette'arranged between said side walls, track channels extendingupwardly in said body frame, a spider frame having guide rollersslidable vertically in said track channels and adapted to raise saidpalette after the molding operation, shielding means over the upperwendsof said track channels, cam mechanism cooperating with said spiderframe, t0 raise and lower the spider frame, means for operating said cammechanism, and a plurality of brick plates between said side walls andabove said palette and adapted to cooperate therewith in molding aplurality of bricks, said brick plates having angle slots in their backends and being hinged through said slots upon said body frame andadapted to swing back away from over the palette and to simultaneouslymove longitudinally.

13. A combined brick and block molding machine,'comprising, incombination, a suitable body frame, a plurality of block molding sidewalls mounted upon said frame, part of said side walls being hinged tospread after the molding operation, a yoke vhinged to swing down andengage the side walls and hold them closed in block molding position, apalette arranged between said side walls, track channels extendingupwardly in said body frame, a spider frame having guide rollers movableupwardly in said track channels and adapted to raise said palette afterthe molding operation, a shaft journaled in said body frame, camsadjustably carried by said shaft to evenly engage and lift said spiderframe, means for turning said shaft, and

a plurality of brick plates between said side walls and above saidpalette and adapted to cooperate therewith in molding a plurality ofbricks, said brick plates having angle slots in their back ends andbeing hinged through said slots upon said frame and adapted to swingback away from over the palette and to simultaneously movelongitudinally.

14, A molding machine, comprising, in combination, a suitable bodyframe, a plurality of block molding side walls mounted upon said frame,part of said side walls being A hinged to spread after the moldingoperation, a yoke hinged to swing down and engage the side walls andhold them closed' in block molding position, a` palette arranged betweensaid side walls, track channels extendingupwardly in said body frame, aspi-l der frame having guide rollers movable upwardly in said trackchannels and adapted to raise said palette after the molding operation,a shaft journaled in said body frame, cams adj ustably carried by saidshaft to evenly engage and lift said spider frame, means

